Negotiations between Syria and Israel have been stalled since January, in a dispute over the future of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Since then Israel has said it will withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon in July, with or without agreements from Beirut and Damascus.

In preparation for the move, Israel said Monday it had begun to withdraw from two of its military outposts in Lebanon.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia consult regularly with Syria. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak recently said he would like to help restart the Syrian-Israel negotiations.

Damascus is demanding Israel withdraw completely from the Golan Heights to the line before June 1967, when Israel seized the area in the Six-Day War. Israel wants to hang on to the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee so as to have sole access to its water -- DAMASCUS (AFP).